Putting a Face to a Name
The other day, I bumped into a friend, who’d seen my new book trailer for The Boy from France on Facebook (posted above, and on Youtube, so you can see it too). My friend said: ‘I really liked your trailer but I didn’t like the fact it featured actors playing Vix and Xavier. When I read a book, I like to imagine what the characters look like for myself. Now when I read The Boy from France, I’ll be thinking of those two people.’
This got me thinking. Is my friend right? Have I inadvertently spoiled the reading experience for my readers by making Vix and Xavier into flesh and blood? Or are readers now so used to seeing trailers and TV or film book adaptations that this doesn’t affect their enjoyment of reading?
When I write a book, I’m deliberately vague about what my characters look like. I might mention that someone is tall or short, dark or fair, but I’ll never describe them in great detail. That’s because I want my readers to create their own character images in their heads, like I do when I read a novel. For the same reason, I usually prefer to read a book before I see a film. (Keira Knightley is soooo not Anna Karenina.) The wrong actor will forever spoil a character for me.
When I cast the trailer, I chose people who looked similar to how I imagine Vix and Xavier to look – around the same age, with similar dress sense etc. – but they’re meant to REPRESENT my characters, rather than BE them.
What do you think about this issue?
Do you like my trailer?
Do you think seeing Vix and Xavier portrayed by ‘actors’ might spoil your enjoyment of the book? Or, if you’ve already read any of the Camden Town Tales books, does the Vix in my trailer look like the Vix you imagined?
I’d love to know!
I’m not sure. I think the truth stands in the middle. You should be more precise about the way your characters look because it will make them realistic. Descriptions help create an image in one’s mind, but it’ll never match the effects of seeing with your own eyes. Which is what happens when you give a visual adaptation to a novel. That’s my idea.
I like your idea but I think I disagree with you there! I think the images one creates in one’s own mind are often better than a description. A face is far more than the sum of its parts, isn’t it?
I think I might agree on some level. I like to give details about the way my characters look, but I guess I’ve never really thought this through. That’s why I’m often vague with descriptions, but still I want some details to exist. The rest is made up by my characters’ action and the way they look depends on how the reader sees “the bad guy” or “the sweet friend”, etc…
I didn’t think the trailer spoilt anything. Personally I think that everyone has their own image and perception of characters, and in the trailer, we saw how you imagined Vix, which is not telling us that we automatically have to imagine her like this! I have a completely different image of Vix and for me, the trailer didn’t spoil anything, just gave me an inisght as to how you imagined her. You have got nothing to worry about! X
Thanks Orli. How do you imagine Vix? x
When I read books,I usually just make my own ‘look’ for them in my head. In some books,even when I see pictures of the charecter,the picture in my head is still the same.
That’s interesting and good to know, Aoife! Thanks.
Hi Hil!
Good post and, I LOVE that trailer! Don’t second guess yourself. If you think it’s right for the Characters, it’s right!
Thanks Laura. I’m so pleased you like the trailer. I’m always second guessing myself! x
Mmm, interesting question. I play with this one myself – I do love your trailer though and I’m not sure that it’ll spoil the book when I get to read it! x
Thanks, Kate. It’s a tricky one. I hope you like the book! x
I love the trailer!!!!!!!!When I see trailers it doesn’t affect on me.
Thank you! That’s good to know.
Your welcome.Thanks
It’s a good trailer and they’re your characters, so I think it’s up to you what they look like. Of course, we imagine our characters in some way and I think that sometimes films spoil this but trailers are usually okay because they just give you an idea of what they are supposed to be like and you can expand on that by adding details I yourself. For example, I read Northern lights, the subtle knife and the Amber spyglass after I had seen the film but that didn’t stop me from picturing Lyra the way I thought she did. I’m sure it’s fine.
I’m glad you like the trailer and thanks for your comment. I’m really glad that’s the case!
Ooh la la – fab trailer Hilary! X
Thanks Diane! x